Modeling fine particulate matter along the Gulf Coast from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014 — Poster Session III
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	FAES Academic Center	NIEHS	EPIG-3

* FARE Award Winner

Authors

• C. M. Jelsema
• S. D. Peddada

Abstract

In 2010 the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, located in the Gulf of Mexico, exploded. The resulting oil spill was the largest maritime oil spill in US history. Toxins polluted significant portions of the Gulf region, both water and air. Over 100,000 individuals participated in the clean-up effort, and one of the concerns is the impact on their health from exposure to toxins from the oil, and the chemical dispersants used during the clean-up. Understanding the nature of exposure is a key step in evaluating any potential health effects upon the clean-up workers. A large degree of the clean-up was focused along the coast of the Gulf (e.g. picking up tarballs on beaches, looking for oil in swampy areas, etc). In this work we develop a framework for modeling fine particulate matter (PM2.5) collected at many locations along the coast, and at many time points throughout the duration of the clean-up. The methodology developed is efficient and flexible enough to model any data indexed by location, or by location and time.

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